Improvement in needle-protector tor sewing-machines



HUCKANS & CABHART. Sewing Machine Needle Protector.

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Witnesses.

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THOMAS HUGKANS, OF NEW BALTIMORE, AND J. WES

' HART, OF TROY, NEW YORK.

Letters Patent No. 92,97 2, dated July 27, 1869.

IMPROVEMENT IN NEEDLE-PROTECTOR FOR SEWING-MACHINES.

The Schedule referred. to in these Letters Patent and making partof the same.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, TnoMAs HUGKANS, of New Baltimore, in the county of Greene, and J. \VESLEY bein had to the accom an 'im drawin s forinim art' 3 D D 7 D p of this specification. p

This invention relates to a new and improved protector for the needles of sewing-machines, whereby the needle is prevented from being broken or injured during the operation of sewing.-

In the accompanying sheet ofdrawings- Figure 1 is a side sectional-view of our invention.

Figure 2, an elevation of the same.

Figure 3, a detached perspective View of a foot or guide pertaining to the same.

Similarletters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

A represents a needle-bar, of any of the known forms, and

B is an attachment connected therewith.

This attachment consists of a bar attached, at its upper and lower ends, to the needle-bar, as shown at a a. v

0 is a movable rod, the bearings b b of which are attached to the bar B, and this rod has the foot D secured to it, said foot being drilled and slotted, as

shown at (l d, fig. 3, to allow the needle E and thread F to pass through it.

.The'foot is attached to the rod (3,.by a screw, 0, so that feet with different-sized holes may be applied to rod 0, to suit needles of different sizes.

On the rod 0 there is placed a spiral spring, G, which is between the bearings b b, and this spring has a tendency to keep the foo. D down near the point of the needle E, which is secured in the lower end of the bar A.

. The tension of this spring is regulated by adjusting the upper bearing b of rod higher or lower, as may be desired.

The height of the foot D above the point of the needle E may be regulated, as desired, by adjusting a stop, I, on the upper part of rod 0.

, From the above description it will be seen, that as the needle descends the foot accompanies it, until the latter comes in contact with and rests upon the ordinary presser-foot of the machine, which presses the work upon the feeder, allowing the needle to pass through and return, the foot of rod 0 being held down upon the presser-foot until the eye of the needle comes above it by means of the spring G.

This invention will prevent the breaking of sewingmacbine needles, which is not only an item of considerable expense-in running a machine, but is a great annoyance and loss of time.

It is well known that needles are liable to spring and strike the throat-piece of the machine, and are consequently broken thereby.

To avoid this contingency as far as possible, the hole in the throat-piece of the machine is made quite large, and the goods are consequently forced through by the needle, thereby making a jagged surface alongthe seam below, and the needle is made much larger than necessary to carry the thread, which injures the fabric. This is especially the case with leather and fine goods.

Our invention causes the needle to be supported at the point, or near it, and, if properly adjusted, guides it directly through the centre-of the holein the throat piece.

It is apparent that a much smaller needle can be used to carry the same thread, and the latter will be less liable to break with our improvement. If the parts be properly adjusted, the needle cannot spring, and therefore is not liable to be struck by the shuttle or other arrangement beneath.

The invention is perfectly simple, and not liable to get out of order, and can be applied to any ordinary sewing-machine in use,

We claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent-- The needle-guard, constructed as described, consisting of the bar B, secured at a a to the needle-bar A, and provided with bearings b b, for the reception of the movable guard-rod G, adjusted by the collar I, and surrounded by the spiral spring G, as herein described for the purpose specified.

The above specification of our invention signed by us, this 23d day of September, 1867.

THOMAS HUOKA'NS. J. WESLEY GARHART.

Witnesses:

D. S. MCNAMARA, E. M. OARHA-RT.

LEY CAR- 

